Most actors hate being typecast. They try to take on diverse roles to both satisfy and challenge themselves, and also to show the movie goers that they are capable of pulling off different, difficult roles. But sometimes due to many reasons (money, luck, agent relations, great scripts that can’t be turned down, scripts that sound similar but have different edges…etc.), they end up playing in similar concepts, and/or movies that have similarities with the others.
While some of these choices don’t sit well with audiences or critics or both, several actors bring a unique feel to the screen and we can’t help but be happy that they were involved in these projects. This is an article series featuring actors’ and their “niches”, featuring an actors’ frequented role, premise and/or genre.
Granted, twice-Oscar winner Robert De Niro is the favorite of many directors and movie goers, but sometimes, it seems like he has played one of these two on the screen way too often:
COP
Freelancers – Robert is a new cop’s dead father’s old partner
Righteous Kill – He teams up with other cop Al Pacino to catch a murderer of murderers, who is possibly a cop.
15 Minutes – Cop (De Niro) works with Fire Marshal Burns to bring down a video-taping killer.
Copland – De Niro is an internal affairs officer
Flawless – Cop has to work alongside a drag queen for rehabilitation purposes.
Mad Dog and Glory -Police photographer appreciated by a mobster.
Showtime – Cop forced to work alongside an actor for a reality show.
City by the Sea – Cop with a son who has committed a crime.
GANGSTER/MOBSTER
The Godfather (2, 3)
Goodfellas
Analyze This – gangster who needs a shrink
Analyze That – sequel of analyze this
Casino – gangster
Once Upon a Time in America – gangster who returns home
The Untouchables – Al Capone
2 Outside of The Niche(s) Robert De Niro Movies
Stardust: (My ultimate favorite Robert De Niro performance and movie) You can’t beat a tough, scary captain of pirates who loves to cut hair and get dressed in pretty clothes when the crew isn’t looking…
Limitless: Writer (Bradley Cooper) finds a drug that makes him extra productive, but his new enhanced mind will also get him in some really big trouble.
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With so little time, and so many movies, there are a few De Niro movies upcoming and old, that I want to catch, including The Big Wedding, The Last Tycoon and New York, New York.
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What are your favorite gangster/cop/outside-of-niche De Niro movies?
